Birmingham City Council has begun its public consultation on introducing a 20mph speed limit on most of its roads.
The ‘20 is Plenty’ scheme would see the speed limit applied to around 90% of roads in Birmingham in a bid to reduce road accidents and deaths. The speed limit will apply to all residential roads but the consultation is also seeking views on whether it should apply to high street shopping areas, around schools, leisure facilities, hospitals and public transport interchanges.
Birmingham is consulting on its 20pmh speed limit plan. Tahir Ali, cabinet member for development, jobs and skills, said: ‘It is vital that we always look at ways to improve all aspects of the city’s transport network. The benefits from implementing a 20mph policy are numerous.
‘By reducing speeds we can reduce the number of accidents on our road and save an estimated £5m per year The increased levels of safety will encourage more people to get out of their cars and onto their bikes or feet, taking traffic off the streets – making our transport system more sustainable in the process.’
The scheme will take up to seven years to complete and will cost the council £7m to implement. The funding will come from money already allocated to transport improvements.
